Space Policy in Developing Countries : The Search for Security and Development on the Final Frontier

This book analyses the rationale and history of space programs in countries of the developing world. Space was at one time the sole domain of the wealthiest developed countries. However, the last couple of decades of the twentieth century and the first decade of the twenty-first century have witnessed the number of countries with state-supported space programs blossom. Today, no less than twenty-five developing states, including the rapidly emerging economic powers of Brazil (seventh-largest), China (second-largest), and India (fourth-largest), possess active national space programs with already proven independent launch capability or concrete plans to achieve it soon. This work places these programs within the context of international relations theory and foreign policy analysis. The author categorizes each space program into tiers of development based not only on the level of technology utilised, but on how each fits within the country’s overall national security and/or development policies. The text also places these programs into an historical context, which enables the author to demonstrate the logical thread of continuity in the political rationale for space capabilities generally. This book will be of much interest to students of space power and politics, development studies, strategic studies and international relations in general. Cover 1 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 List of tables 9 Preface 10 Acknowledgments 12 Introduction: Space power as national power 14 1 Space power and the modern state 28 2 The evolution of national space policies 42 3 First tier space actors: Launching BRICs into space 85 4 Second tier space actors 136 5 Third tier space actors 158 Conclusion: Space policy in developing countries 207 Notes 210 Bibliography 235 Index 245 Introduction : space power as national power Space power and the modern state The evolution of national space policies First tier space powers (launching BRICs into space) Second tier space powers Third tier space powers Conclusions : space policy in developing countries.